Machine for dyeing yarn and the like



July 22, 1930. A. E. BYRD 1,770,91

MACHINE FOR DYEING YARN AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 16, 1928 bobbin. In other words Patented July 22, 19

' UNITED- S'T TE 's r Ammon a BYRD, or MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, Assrenon'ro; mam s me! comrmvm'o'r MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, 'A1CQBPOBA'IIONIOF'WISQOKSIF I "MACHINE roa DYEING yamr-ann-rnnmxn- This invention relates inigeneral to a ma I chine for dyeing yarn or other textile .or fibrous material and is particularly designed for imparting to the material. a -mo ttled or variegated appearance whereby difi'erent portions of the material are tinted or colored differently in a uniform manner; By dyeing or coloring thread inthis way and subsequently knitting or weaving itinto fabric an attractive mottled or multi-coloredfabriclmay be may be manufactured and operated at a comparatively slight expense and with a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

A further object of. the invention is toprovide a machine of this characterwhichautomatically effects the dyeing of the yarn or thread during the winding of the yarn on a i as the yarn passes from the skein to the bobbin on which it is to be wound it travels through the machine embodying the present inventionand is, during itspassage through the machine, dyed in themanner described. Another object is to provide a' machine having these advantages and capacities, which may be readily and easily organized with the mechanism for winding the yarn or thread on thebobbins. a i 1 Another important object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which may be readily and easilyadj'usted to vary the character of the dyeing action there by facilitating the production of various colored yarn or thread and consequently of -producing :fabricsm' garments ofdifierent patterns or color combinations. Y

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of theconstruction, a'rrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinaftermore fullyde'scribed and particularly pointed outin the appended claims, reference being had to the accompany- -ap lication .flled November 16, 1928. Serial naeiaaaak v cation, and in which I a Figure'Iis a fragmentary. view inelevation showing a device'for dyeingyarn or thread embodying the present invention and organ izedwitha machine for takin the yarn from a skein and winding it upon abobbin 1 Figure 2 .is a view in side elevation-looking toward the left of Figure 1; A

Figure 3 is'a plan view on .a largerscale illustrating the construction ofthe dyeing" machine embodying the present invention;

line 4-4 of Figure 3; and. i

Figures 5 and 6 are detail sectional views taken on lines 5 5 and 66, respectively, of Figure4.; m Referring to thedrawings and more par ticularly to I'ligures 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates generally a conventional machine Figure this a view in transverse. section on widely employed for" taking yarn from a skein and winding it upon a-bobbin. As

shown, the skein S of the yarn is mounted upon a reel R andthe yarn is wound upon a bobbin B which is actuated in the usual man-v ner. Betweenthe reel, R andithe bobbin B the yarn is trained through and guided by conventional guides and tensioning devices, designated MG and G.

The dyeing device embodying the present invention anddesignated generallyat D, is arranged to operate upon the run of the yarn located between the guide andxtensioning device Gandthe guideG',

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the dyeing means comprises a tank or container 1 which contains a suitable supply of dye and which is supported by brackets 2 on the standard A 'Which carries the I reel R. Dye. applying means is associated with the tank and preferably comprises an applicating roller 3 fixed to rotate with a shaft 4 rotatablymounted in bearings 6 provided on the tank 1. The roller 3 may comprise a wooden body, portion 7 equipped with a suitable covering 8, thecovering 8 being of fabric of suitable absorbent material adapted to carry asupply of dye and to transfer the same to the yarn. As shownin Figure .4, a portion of the roller 3 isimme n the s pp y of dye contained the "ing drawings, forming a of specififig tank and a portion thereof projects above the tank and into position where it is adapted to engage the yarn.

Means is provided for driving the applicating roller 3 and comprises suitable gearing between shaft 4 carrying the roller and the mechanism which drives the bobbin B. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a shaft 10, which is constrained to rotate with the bobbin drive, is connected by chain and sprocket gearing 11 to the shaft 4 so that Whenever the bobbin is being rotated to wind the yarn thereon the shaft 4 is actuated to rotate the roller. Obviously, however, an independent motor or other means may be geared to the shaft 4 for driving the same, but to simplify the construction and to obtain best results in the dyeing, the drive of the roller is taken from the bobbin drive.

In this connection it is to be understood that, usually, it is desirable to synchronize the roller speed and the yarn speed and this, O'fJCOUISQ, may be conveniently done by driving the roller from the bobbin actuating mechanism.

The present invention proposes to vary the contact of the yarn with the roller 3 to produce a mottled dyeing and a yarn of variegated color. Preferably, this is accomplished by causing the yarn to periodically engage and disengage the roller 3. In carrying but this purpose the yarn, after passing through the guide Gr, extends down under a rotary yarn shifting device designated generally at 15. After passing under the device 15 the yarn extends across the top ot'the roller 3 through a guide 16. In one phase of the operation the device 15 )resses the yarn between it and the guide 16 down to the full line position shown in Figure l, in which position the yarn engages the periphery of the roller 3. In another phase of the operation the device 15 permits the yarn to rise up to the dotted line position shown in Figure 4 where it is out of contact with the roller 8. The device 15 may be constructed and driven or moved in various ways as its essential operation requires only that its structure and motion be such as to periodically shift the yarn into and out of contact with the roller 3. but, as shown in the drawings it may be made up of a pair of circular cheek plates or end plates 17 and 18 secured by means of set screws 19 or other suitable fastening means upon a rotatable shaft 20. The end late 17 which is of circular form has a circu ar series of openings 17 around and spaced inwardly of its periphery and the end plate 18 has a similar series of openings 18 arranged in longitudinal alinement with the openings 17 and similar to the openings 17 in all respects except that the openings 18 are internally threaded. Yarn engaging and depressing bars 21 are mounted on the plates 17 and 18, the bars being inserted through the openings I7 and having their ends 21' externally threaded and engaged with the internal threads of the openings 18 with which they are associated. The ends of the bars 21 received in the openings 17 may have cross slots 21 adapted to coact with a screw driver or the like to facilitate assembly and disassembly of these bars. The bars 21 may be provided in any number and may be spaced at any desired angular interval around the periphery of the device 15. As shown, only three bars are mounted on the plates 17 and 18 and consequently the yarn is caused to engage the roller for only a small period during each revolution of the device 15. It is to be understood, however, that several groups of bars may be provided around the periphery of the plates 17 and 18 and that the bars may be evenly spaced or spaced at different angular intervals as the particular number and arrangement of bars employed depends solely upon the manner in which it is desired to dye the yarn. Thus, the device or means 15 illustrated for displacing the yarn into contact with the rotary dye applying member is rotary in its character and broadly consists of a rotary member with broken or irregular periphery but it is to be understood that it is not essential that the device 15 be rotary in its character as its function may be accomplished by a similar device which is oscillated, reciprocated or otherwise moved or shifted. However, the rotary device illustrated has many advantages, especially as its action may be so easily varied.

The shaft 20, which carries the device 15, is rotatably journaled in adjustable bearing blocks 25 which are slidably fitted in grooves nr guide-ways 26 provided upon hearing brackets 27 secured as at .28 to the tank 1 and projecting beyond the rear wall of the tank. The blocks 25 are secured in any adjusted position along their guide-ways by means of clamping screws 29 which have reduced and threaded extensions 30 extending through slots 27 provided in the brackets 27 and underlying the guide-ways 26 and which are threaded into openings 25' provided in the bearing blocks 25. At the juncture of each screw 29 and its reducedextension 30 a shoul- 1 der 31 is provided and this shoulder is of such size as to straddle the slot 27 and have binding engagement with the portions of the brackets 27 contiguous with the margins of the slot 27'. By adjusting the blocks 25 along their guide-ways, they may be moved toward or away from the roller 3 and this adjustment varies the angle at which the yarn is led to the roller 3 when subjected to the action of the device 15 and consequently varies the extent of the dyeing action.

The frequency with which the yarn is depressed into contact with the roller 3 is varied not only by providing more or less depressing bars 21 but by the speed of rotation of the IUD device 15 carrying these bars 21. For this urpose a chan e speed gearing is provided between the she 4 and the shaft 20. Thus, as shown in Figure 3, a collar 35 is fitted on the shaft 4 so as to be constrained to rotate with the shaft while free to be adjusted longitudinally thereof. If desired, this may be efi'ected by means of a set screw 36. Integrally formed with the collar 35 or otherwise fixed- 1y connected thereto are a plurality of driving gear wheels, designator In the construction shown, the collar 35 has a web or body plate 40 integral therewith and at its periphery this web is flanged as at 41 and the flange is constructed exteriorly to provide the gear wheels 37, 38 and 39 of different diameters. A pinion 42 is fitted on the shaft 20 for axial adjustment although constrained to rotate with the shaft. This may be effected by means of a set screw 43 threaded through the hub of the pinion and having binding engagement with the shaft 20. The pinion 42 may be adjusted along its shaft to be alined with any one of the gear wheels 37, 38 and 39, and it may be brought into mesh with its alined gear wheel by adjusting the bearing blocks .25 to move the shaft '20 and the pinion 42 toward or away from the shaft 4 and the driving gears thereof. It is obvious that when the pinion is meshed with the gear wheel 37 the device 15 will be rotated at high speed and any given length of yarn will be periodically brought into more frequent contact with the roller 3 than if the pinion 4:2 is meshedwith either gear wheels or 39. In this way the resulting appearance of the yarn subjected to the dyeing operation is varied. If frequent color variations are desired the gear wheels 37 and i2 are meshed and if less frequent variation is desired the gear wheels 33 and 42- or 39 and 42 are meshed The dye in the tank 1 is preferably main taincd at the pr per temperature by means 01" an electric heater designated generally at 56 and having its casing threaded through one of the side walls of the tank and immersed in the dye. The heating elements are designated at 51 in Figure 4t and are supplied with current from the conductors 52 (see Fig-' ure 3).

From the foregoing it will be understood that as the yarn is taken from the reel and wound upon the bobbin it passes through the dyeing device embodying the present invern tion and that spaced portions in the yarn are brought into contact with the dye applying means shown for the sake of illustration as consisting of a roller 3. The frequency with which the yarn is caused to engage the dye applying means is determined by the rate at which the yarn shifting device 15 is driven and by the number of yarn depressing bars or by the number of groups of such bars provided in the. device 15. The extent of yarn at 37, 38 and 39.

dyed or colored each time that the. am is depressed into engagement with the ye applying roller is determined by the grouping of the yarn depressing bars -21. It is obvious that if a plurality of bars 2113s provided in closely spaced relation around a portion; of the periphery of the device 15 they will hold the yarn against the roller 3 for an appreciable interval and as the yarn is rapidly running past the roller atthis time quite an extent of theyarn will be dyed each time the yarn is moved against'the roller 3 However, if a lesser number of bars '21 be arranged in each group and each group be spaced around the periphery of the .device 15 then portions of the yarn of slight extent only will be dyed each time the yarn is brought into, contact with the dye applying roller 3.

But whatever adjustment is effected results in a uniform dyeing of the entire skein of yarn so that when the yarn is subsequently woven or knitted into afabric a uniform color scheme or mottled effect will be produced.

The invention claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprisin dye applying means, means for cans ing a brous material to travel past said dye applying means, means for periodically moving the fibrous material into engagement with the dye applying means and comprisin-ga ro tatable element having meansto receive a variable number of yarn engaging and displacing bars at variable angular intervals thereabout.-

2. A device of the character described comprising dye applying means, means for causing yarn to travel past said dye applying means and means for periodically moving the yarn into engagement withthe dye applying means and comprising a rotatable shaft, and plates carried by-the shaft and having means for receiving a plurality of yarn engaging and displacing bars at variable spaced angular intervals about its periphery.

3. A device of the character described comprising dyeapplying means, means for causing yarn to travel past said .dye applying means and means for periodically moving the yarn into engagement with the dye applying means and comprising a rotatable shaft, :1- pair of end plates fixed to the shaft and having alined circular series of openings around their peripheries and yarndepressing bars adapted to be assembled with any selected group of openings and periodically en gageable with the yarn to cause it to engage the dye applying means.

4:. A device of the character described comp y 5. device of the character d'escnbedcomat variable speeds from said rotary dye apmember.

prising a rotary dye applying member, means for causing fibrous material to travel past said dye applying means, and rotary means for displacing the fibrous material into .engage-.

ment with the dye applying means, and means for driving 'Silld rotary means at variable 1 speeds from said rotary dye applying means, and including a plurality of gear Wheels of different diameters constrained to rotate with the dye applying means and a driven pinion connected to the displacing means and selec tively cooperable with said gear wheels, said displacing means being shiftable toward andaway from the dye applying means.

6. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable shaft, a' rotary dye applying member actuated from the shaft, means 'for causing fibrous material to travel past said dye applying means, rotary means 'for periodically dlsplacing said fibrous material lnto cooperable relation with respect to said dye applying means, and change speed gearing for driving said rotary means from said shaft.

7. A device of the character described comprising dye applying means, means for causmg fibrous material to travel past said dye applying means, and a rotary device having an irregular and variable periphery directly engageable with the fibrous material to periodically displace it into cooperative relation with respect to the dye applying means.

8. A device of the character described comprising a dye applying roller, means for causing fibrous material to travel. past said dye applying roller, a rotary device having an irregular periphery engageable with the fibrous material to periodically displace it into engagement with the dye applying roller and means for shifting the rotary device to- Y ward and awe fromt ed ea l in roller.

9. A device b t the charadier c lgs rib ed com prising a dye applying member, means for causing material to be dyed to travel past said dye applying member, means for lntermittently displacing the material into engagement with the dye applying member and means for driving the displacing means at variable speeds with respect to the travel of said material whereby the character of the dyeing operations may be varied.

In witness whereof, I hereto a'iiix my signature.

ARTHUR E. BYRD. 

